Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth–Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic

The city of Fort Worth is widely known as “Where the West Began”, but it can also be known as “Where Great Works of Art Are Seen”.  The world-famous Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth will be presenting Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic which will highlight the range and scope of the artist’s 14-year career .  The street life of Harlem will start the exhibition as Wiley focuses on African-American men.  In later works Wiley examines the European tradition of portraiture while taking paintings by such masters as Titian, Manet, and Van Dyck.  He replaces the historical subjects with more contemporary young African-American men dressed in urban fashion.  Wiley is known for his large decorative canvases which have become part of his signature style.  It seems fitting that the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth would feature A New Republic at this time when issues of class, race and gender are in the headlines today. Also featured in this exhibition are examples of the artists’ stained-glass paintings and bronze busts.

On January 21, 2015, Wiley received the United States State Department Medal of Arts.  An illustrated catalogue published by the Brooklyn Museum and DelMonico Books/Prestel accompanies the exhibition.